West Goshen's move to regulate rental housing earns Roses

Roses to West Goshen supervisors for taking action now to regulate rental housing to college students. Residents south of Rosedale Avenue complained they were seeing an increased number of single family houses in their neighborhoods converted into student residences. Amendments to their zoning ordinances were made Wednesday to define and restrict that usage. Properties already fitting the definition of student housing will be grandfathered. Because those serving on the state Supreme Court maintain every municipality must provide for every possible zoning usage, West Goshen supervisors have done just that — far from the campus of West Chester University. This presumably will make the Rosyln neighborhood next to the college safer for residents and discourage students and real estate agents from block busting in an area less appetizing for students. It will not be a problem that goes away.

Roses to area farmers markets who offer for sale fresh produce that both supports local growers and promotes healthy eating. The farming traditions of the region provide goods for the markets, and whether in a permanent location or a weekend temporary spot, these markets are a good way to make available fresh goods to consumers. In West Vincent, for example, the West Vincent Board of Supervisors recently decided to lease a section of the township’s Andrew Evans Park for use by a farmer’s market. The market will highlight the popular efforts of the West Vincent Farmers Market Association to bring locally grown and organically realized produce and food items to the residents of the township and beyond. Whether selling at market stores or stands, farmers and other growers are a valuable resource for this region.

Thorns to Pennsylvania legislators who continue to fleece beleaguered taxpayers with a practice known as per diems, a constitutionally-questionable system where lawmakers submit unvouchered expenses for meals and lodging on top of their generous salaries. An investigation by reporters Brad Bumsted and Mike Wereschagin of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review found that lawmakers increase their requests for reimbursement dramatically as the state fiscal year comes to a close each June. In other words, lawmakers want to make sure they don’t leave any scraps behind as they empty the cupboards before heading on their annual three-month vacations. During a five-day period in 2012 when House leaders spent $64,000 on catered meals, legislators still claimed $105,000 in per diems, according to state records compiled by the Tribune-Review. In 2011, House leaders bought almost $23,000 in food over three days but members claimed nearly $60,000 in per diems, records show. How much catered food can these “public servants” possibly consume? “The bank gets robbed every day with these guys,” Joe Poniewaz, 66, a retired Pittsburgh police officer, told the newspaper. If history is any guide, legislators will spend more money on themselves this month — about $400,000 — than any other in 2013, the newspaper reported. Pennsylvania legislators have a base salary of $83,802. That’s twice as much as the average taxpayer is bringing home. And that’s more than enough to cover their lavish meals without having to stick taxpayers with the bill.

Friday was Flag Day, so we offer Roses to the area Scout troops and other volunteer groups who helped collect and properly dispose of the old American flags that were tattered and torn.